CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008

For years, critics have blasted GM for its culture of politically correct corporate conformity. Then along comes Maximum Bob Lutz to speak his mind on the Global Warming fraud and the same critics go ape. Lutz doesn't need me to defend him, as he does a superb job of it himself at the GM Fastlane Blog. But here's a prediction: Lutz will soon be hounded into either silence or retirement by a GM board that lacks the backbone to stand-up to the howls of calculated protest from the Global Warming fanatics and their Homers in the Mainstream Media.

And while we're on the topic of GM, remember that landmark VEBA deal between the UAW and the General? Well, details of how the deal is actually supposed to work are only now beginning to come out and Robert Farago at The Truth About Cars is paying close attention. He's, uh, not optimistic.

There may be an uglier vehicle out there but I have yet to see anything so bad as the new Fiat 500 Abarth. 4Wheelsblog has video of the official launch.

Did somebody wake up on the wrong side of the steering wheel this morning????

They're dreaming about fast station wagons over at Amazon Car Lust. Like the Volvo 850 turbowagon. Reminds me of the day in 1986 at Summit Point during a Firestone Firehawk race when just such a Volvo blew past me and my MR2 heading into Turn 10, heeled over like a drunk sailor to the apex, then disappeared down the main straight.

Talk about lookin' for love in all the wrong places, Askpatty.com's Linda Pyrzgodski has a report on a new web site that claims to help you meet your soulmate at a NASCAR race.

Want to read something sensible about the presidential race and the auto industry? Head over to AUTOEXTREMIST where Peter DeLorenzo holds forth, noting among other things that Detroit has been struggling for years with issues like health care and unfunded pensions.

Would you go to the body shop recommended by your car insurance company if you knew both were owned and operated by the same corporation? Didn't think so. Auto Muse explains why the U.S. Supreme Court's decision earlier this week upholding a Texas law is good news if you want honest insurance and collision repairs.

Take me with you next time, Holly! Imagine sitting casually in a neat little place on the coast in the South of France discussing the new Jag XF with its designer, Ian Callum. Actually, you don't have to imagine it, just go over to The Driving Woman where Holly will tell you all about it.

Remember the Can-Am? Of course you do, even if you don't because it produced more classic races and race cars in a shorter period of time than any other professional sports car racing series ever. Gary at The Garage Blog is thus understandably excited about the VARAC Vintage Races at Mosport this year. The Can-Am cars are coming back to Mosport!

You think you've got irritating speed bumps in your neighborhood? You gotta go over to 4 Drivers Only and check out a speed bump innovation in Germany that you pray never makes it here to the states.

See ya!